Sifter top can



Aug. 3, 1937. PETERS 2,088,607

SIFTER TOP CAN Filed Jan.'2, 1936 I 'INVENTOR 21.5 0%:

M iv.

ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 3, 1937 PATENT OFFICE SIFTER T01? CAN John F. Peters, Leonia, N. J1, assignor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application January 2, 1936, Serial No. 57,267

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to a sifter top container or can of the type usually employed for talcum powder and the like and has particular reference to a sifter nozzle and rotatable closure cap construction in which cap and nozzle are provided with friction reducing relieved or spaced apart walls having reenforced elevated and perforated engaging seats on which the cap is rotated and further provided with a plurality 20 of intermeshing cap rotaton stop lugs formed and located in the cap and nozzle walls in such a manner as to prevent distortion and separation of the engaging seats when the cap is rotated to move the perforations into and out of dispensing alignment.

An object of the invention is the provision in a sifter top can, of a special construction of sifter nozzle and rotatable closure cap in which cap and nozzle are provided with reenforced annular perforated seats which are restricted in area and which have close engaging surfaces free from any obstructions or protuberances so that the seats will remain in contact against distortion or separation to prevent sifting of the contents when the cap is in closed position.

Another object is the provision. of such a sifter nozzle and closure cap construction wherein stop lugs for limiting the rotation of the cap are located in the side walls of the cap and nozzle 0 and at a distance from the engaging seats so that any distortion of the lugs, caused by improper rotation of the cap such as would be brought about by causing some of the lugs to ride over the tops of others, will not be transmitted to the engaging seats which remain intact and in close engagement without any separation,

the lugs meshing together in a crenelated shaped relation and presenting square cornered engaging edges which minimize wedging of the lugs when they are moved into engagement.

Another object is the provision of a sifter nozzle and closure cap construction of this character wherein the walls of. cap and nozzle are relieved or spaced apart to reduce friction to a Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sifter top can equipped with a sifter nozzle and rotatable closure cap embodying the instant invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the upper part of the can showing the closure cap removed and in superimposed and separated position relative to the nozzle as before assembling, the view 11- lustrating a portion of the cap broken away;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the can showing the sifter top in open position, parts being broken back and shown in section;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged view similar to Fig. 3 showing the sifter top in closed position; and

Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the upper part of the can, the view being taken substantially along the line 5--5 in Fig. 3.

As a preferred embodiment of the invention the drawing illustrates a can provided with a sifter nozzle which is embraced by a rotatable closure cap for opening and closing the nozzle and which is designed to insure free and easy movement on the nozzle while at the same time preventing sifting of the contents when the nozzle is closed.

To this end the walls of the nozzle and the cap,

with the exception of particular wall sections hereinafter mentioned, are relieved or spaced apart so that frictional contact is reduced to a minimum- This exception is an annular part in both the nozzle and the cap top walls whichslidably engage-against each other.

- These sections are elevated abovethe top wall to form annular seats of restricted area which are pierced with sifter perforations but which are free from any obstructions or protuberances that would otherwise destroy the uniformly even surface of the seats or cause the slightest separation of them when the cap is rotated. To insure against any distortion of the seats during such rotation of the cap, they are surrounded by conical reenforcing walls which give strength and rigidity to these sections.

Rotation of the cap to open and close the nozzle brings the sifter perforations into and out of registration and this movement ,is limited by stops formed in the cap and in the nozzle side walls. In the nozzle side walls these stops are formed as a crenelated shaped band which sets off a plurality of spaced rectangular projections having substantially square cornered edges. Intermeshing with these stops are rectangular protuberances formed in the cap sidewall and having similar substantially square cornered edges adapted to engage with the edges of the nozzle projections in such a manner that wedging of the stops is largely prevented.

This location of the stops further insures against separation of the nozzle and cap seats since any distortion of the cap walls caused by improper rotation of the cap such as would cause some of the stops to ride up on the others, will be outward instead of upward and such distortion will be arrested by theconical-reenforcing wall. It is to .these features that the invention is particularly directed.

'In the drawing the numeral ll (Fig. l) indicates a tubular can body having a bottom end l2 secured thereto in any suitable manner. At its upper end the can is provided with a breast l3 which fits over the top of the body in tight engagement with its side walls. A gasket l4 having a central opening I5 is disposed inside the breast and engages against the top edge of the body to prevent leakage of the can contents through this connection.

A sifter nozzle or neck l1 (Figs. 2 and 5) of cylindrical form is provided for the top ofthe can and includes a vertical wall It, the lower marginal edge of which is flanged outwardly and is secured to the breast l3 in any suitable manner, as for example, by an interfolded seam I9.

wall 2|.

These projections have substantially The upper part of the side wall I8 is necked-in or reduced in diameter to provide a set-back The wall I8 merges into the wall 2| in such a manner as to provide a crenelated shaped band or area 22 which sets oif a plurality of spaced rectangular projections 23 connected with the wall l8 and flush with its outer surface. square cornered edges which are used as stops for a closure cap hereinafter described.

The nozzle is provided with a top wall 25 which is formed with a raised or elevated annular flat wall section or seat 26 whichis piercedthrough with a plurality of spaced sifter perforations 21 but which is free from any seat deforming obstructions or protuberances. The outer edge of conical wall 28 which at its base merges into the vertical side wall 2| and which gives strength and rigidity to the nozzle top wall and protects the raised seat 26 from distortion.

A closure cap 3| (Figs. 1, 2 and 5) is rotatably disposed on the nozzle l1 and is used for opening and closing the nozzle sifter perforations 21. This cap comprises a top wall 32, which conforms generally to the shape of the nozzle top wall 25, and a substantially vertical side ,wall 33 which 7 extends down adjacent the nozzle side walls The cap top wall 32 is formed with a raised annular flat wall section 34 which seats against the raised section 26 of the nozzle and which is provided with a plurality of spaced perforations 35 which are adapted to be aligned with the nozzle perforations 21 when the cap is rotated to an open position as shown in Fig. 3.

The outer edge of the annular wall section 34 merges into an annular reenforcing conical wall 31 which corresponds to the nozzle wall 26. The wall 31 and the top wall 32 are spaced away from the corresponding walls of the nozzle to permit the raised section 34 to bear uniformly and closely against its nozzle'seat 26 and to permit free and easy rotation of the cap. 3

The side wall 33 of the cap is joined to its top wall alongthe outer edge of the conical wall 31. Adjacent this connection the side wall is provided with an annular series of vertical corrugations 4| forming a milled surface which serves as a hand grip for rotating the cap on the nozzle. At its lower end the cap side wall terminates in a bead 42 providing a groove 43 which en gages over short shoulders 44, preferably three in number, formed in the wall ll! of the nozzle. These shoulders hold the cap in place on the nozzle while at the same time they permit free rotation of theicap with a minimum .of friction. Intermediate the bead 42 and the corrugations 4| the cap side wall 33 is formed with a plurality of spaced protuberances 46 arranged toform a decorative appearance when viewed from the cap exterior and which project inwardly into the spaces or crenels between the projections 23 of the crenelated band 22 on the nozzle. There are preferably the same number of protuberances as there are projections 23 so that each of the former .are disposed between a pair of the latter. These protuberances provide substantially square cornered stops for engaging against the projections 23 to align the perforations 21, 35 when the cap is rotated into open position and to prevent their alignment when the cap is rotated in the opposite direction to a closed position.

This construction of relieved walls and close fitting cap and nozzle seats reenforced by surrounding conical walls separated from the positive acting intermeshing stops permits easy turn ing of the cap relative to the, nozzle. There is therefore no tendency toward distortion or separation of the cap andv nozzle seats when opening and closing the sifter perforations. Sifting of the contents through the nozzle when'the latter is closed is thereby prevented. 1

It is thought that the invention andmany of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim: n n

l. A sifter .top for a can, comprising a sifter nozzle of cylindrical form having a flat annular elevated and perforated seat in a top wall thereof, and a rotatable closure cap embracing said nozzle and having a top wall formed with a fiat annular perforated seat which closely engages all portions of said nozzle seat, otheradjacent walls of said cap being relieved and spaced away from the walls of said nozzle to provide easy turning of said cap when moving its perforations into register with the perforations of said nozzle.

2. A sifter top for a can, comprising a sifter nozzle of cylindrical form havinga smooth fiat annular elevated and perforated seat in atop wall thereof, and a rotatableclosure cap embracing said nozzle and having a top wall formed with a smooth fiat annular perforated seat which closely engages all portions of said nozzle seat, said seats having surrounding reenforcing conical walls to prevent distortion'and' separation of the seats when the cap is rotated on saidnozzle.

3. A sifter top for a can, comprising. a sifter nozzle of cylindrical form having a smooth fiat annular elevated and perforated seat in a top wall thereof, and a rotatable closure cap embracing said nozzle and having a top wallformed with a smooth fiat annular perforated seat which closely engages all portions of said nozzle seat to minimize leakage of can contents to between said seats, the flat unobstructed engaging surfaces of said annular seats preventing distortion and separation of the seats when the cap is rotated on said nozzle.

4. A sifter top for a can, comprising a sifter nozzle of cylindrical form having a perforated top wall section and having a side wall formed witha plurality of diameters the greater of which merges into a lesser diameter providing a crenelated shaped area setting off a plurality of spaced projections extending outwardly from the lesser diameter wall, and a rotatable closure cap embracing said nozzle and having perforations in a top wall section which are rotatable into and out of registration with the nozzle perforations, the sides of said cap having a plurality of spaced protuberances intermeshing with said nozzle projections to limit the rotation of said cap.

5. A sifter top for a can, comprising a sifter nozzle of cylindrical form having a perforated top wall seat and having a side wall formed with a crenelated shaped area setting off a plurality of spaced projections, and a rotatable closure cap embracing said nozzle and having a perforated top wall seat slidably engaging said nozzle seat and having a side wall formed with a plurality of spaced protuberances which inter-'- mesh with said nozzle projections to limit the rotation of said cap when moving the said seat perforations into and out oi register, the location of said nozzle projections and cap protuberances being removed at a distance from said seats to prevent'separation of the latter when the cap is rotated.

6. A sitter top for acan, comprising a sitter nozzle of cylindrical form having a perforated top wall seat and having. a side wall formed with a crenelated shaped area setting off a plurality of spaced projections having square cornered edges, and a rotatable closure cap embracing said nozzle and having a perforated top wall seat slidably engaging said nozzle seat and having aside wall formed with a plurality of spaced. protuberances equal innumber to the spaces between said nozzle projections and which intermesh therewith to limit the rotation of said cap when moving the said seat perforations into and out of register, said cap protuberances having square cornered edges for positive abutting engagement with said nozzle projections so as to prevent wedging together of these parts, the location of said nozzle projections and cap protuberances being removed at a distance from said seats to prevent separation of the latter when the cap is rotated.

JOHN F. PETERS. 

